SAEDNEWS: In April 1921, National Geographic published, for the first time, stunning images of Iran and its people during the late Qajar era.
According to the History and Culture Desk of Saed News, in Farvardin 1300 AH (April 1921), during a time when Iran still woke to the dim glow of oil lamps and the clatter of horse hooves, a group of National Geographic photographers set foot in the country. They wandered through Tehran’s muddy alleys, the bustling bazaars of Tabriz, the earthen homes of Kashan, and the turquoise springs of Isfahan, capturing an extraordinary vision of Iranians in the late Qajar era.
The images published in the April issue were far more than simple photographs; they were mirrors reflecting the identity, heritage, and cultural beauty of a people navigating the space between tradition and modernity. Within the frames, one could see men in long cloaks and robes, women adorned with patterned chadors and colorful jewelry, mischievous children playing in dusty lanes, and caravans still laden with silk and spices.
Each photograph tells the story of a time when Iran had preserved a quiet dignity and serenity in the faces of its people. The National Geographic photographer could hardly have imagined that a century later, these very images would become priceless documents of the Iranian spirit—a spirit that, despite the passage of years, still shines through the gentle eyes and composed demeanor of today’s citizens.
Farvardin 1300 was not merely the publication date of a magazine issue; it was the moment when the world saw Iran for the first time—not through maps or legends, but through the authentic lives and gaze of its people.
